Looking for answers to life's questions

My sister retired from her job last week. She drove a bus throughout the city and suburbs of Portland, Oregon for 15 years. On my very best day, it’s not a job I could or would do. Driving a city bus is akin to living in a house on a main street with no lock on the doors. You never know who will walk through.

She really liked most of her passengers but each day brought its own special challenge. The threat of violence from a passenger that was asked to pay for their ride or move their feet off a seat to make room for another was a daily reality. She has enough stories to write her own book. The problem is, the stress has left her with the inability to remember an appointment time made just as she tries to write it down.

Her family and friends that care are grateful she is making this leap of faith. We know she will find other work to sustain her, but right now, she needs to rest and recreate. Jobs and life choices that leave a person so seriously drained will inflict damage to the body and the mind. My sister and children have been there to encourage me through my own leap of faith and now we will be there to encourage hers.

So we celebrated last Saturday evening with a surprise party put together by her girlfriend. We met at her favorite East Indian restaurant in downtown Portland. I have never eaten East Indian food. We were brought up on very bland food and I have not ventured very far from those staples. I will never be a foodie, but my education was about to begin.

My sister treated my daughter to a new ethnic restaurant experience each year on my daughter’s birthday for the last 7 years of living in this area. So her education was well ahead of mine. I let my daughter order for me and she did very well. I really enjoyed my spicy food. A cocktail before dinner helped me be more adventurous. I usually pick a German restaurant for my birthday but I think I will learn from my daughter and continue to try new things. We are all taking leaps of faith in one way or another.

A co-worker gifted my sister a journal. Perfect since she is writing her way through this complete change of lifestyle.

Now she can write a book

My children and I together bought her a pocket watch since she is trying not to look at her wrist ever minute to make sure she is on time. It’s a hard habit to break. The inscription read, “It’s time to work at living”. I now have to change the ring tone on my phone for her. It was from that song that goes, “I’m in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life’s no fun.” I’m just not sure what her new ring tone will be. It will be interesting to see where the adventure leads.

It’s time to work at living

You can see the workings from both sides of the watch

Have you ever made a leap of faith and what brought it on? For me, Bells Palsy was the wakeup call. I’d love to hear how you figured out that change was necessary and how you leaped into your adventure.

Comments on: "In Search of That Leap of Faith" (14)

I wish your sister all the luck in the world. I can’t imagine a job with that kind of stress. Btw, I love how you described her job as having a home on main street without locks.

Last year, I made my leap of faith. I trusted that my children were not going to need to move back home and got rid of just about everything I owned to move into a one room apartment. It came with no stove and no hookups for one either. But it came with more freedom than I could have imagined. While the move was intended to be closer to town and be freer to give up my car, I found so much more. I have started a community garden where there was only an overgrown field, I have made so many new friends, and have time for all the things I wished I could have had the time for in the past.

Good Luck to your sister. I also had a very stressful job before I retired. The company I worked for called it ‘the front lines’ for a reason. After I left, it was like I had ‘post tramatic stress syndrome’, I actually spoke to a professional to manage. I would recommend it for your sister if she could manage the cost.

I guess one big leap of faith I decided to make was 16 years ago, my husband and I only dated for 4 months and when he had to look for a new apartment, we decided to move in together. Friends and Family were shocked. But we just decided to ‘do or die’ rather than waste each others time…..and so that worked out pretty well.

Thank you for the caring comment. Yes, my sister is being treated for PTSD. She’s changed her diet, habits, and routine. Lots of B-12 etc. I was also treated for it and recovery takes a long time depending on the length and intensity of the stress. We have been getting well together. Writing has been a life saver for me and she is just starting to journal. Baby steps. I love your blog. I wish I could write as often, with as much humor. I look forward to them. Keep them coming.

I’m speechless. Thank you for the nomination. Like you, I don’t know how to respond or what to do next. I’ll take some moments to digest it. I’ve been reading some of your blog and want to get to more. I’m so grateful you found it “fun”. That’s where I want to go with it. Thank you again.

I think I have a little problem with the nomination. As much as it delights me, I have not found 11 blogs yet to nominate. I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, but I honestly don’t know how to find blogs that I’m interested in. Most of the blogs I like have found me. I’ve been hoping to find someone to ask. I do feel quite foolish.

I think my last message to you disappered before I was ablt to send it. I don’t know what to do about the nomination. I don’t as yet follow 11 blogs and don’t know how to find blogs I enjoy reading. Several of you have found me and I’m grateful. I feel quite foolish. I keep trying to figure it out on my own.

Don’t worry about it. I simply wanted to let you know I enjoyed your blog. You don’t have to do anything but smile and know what you write means something to others. There was no pressure intended by nominating you.

Thank You for your follow It nice to have a new listener to may rants and raves about whats happening behind our backs. It is encouraging to know that people are read the information I research, because I feel this information is important for them to know. Thanks again. I’ll do the best I can.